Help needed: Newbie question on Toshiba HD A3

[desertdragon]

Hi folks:
I am planning to buy the HD A3. I have a question regarding the below statement:

"Next-generation HD DVD format compatible for true HDTV video with amazing color and incredible high-resolution surround sound.
Delivers greatly enhanced video performance with standard DVDs by upconverting their video resolution to HDTV-compliant 720p or 1080i via the HDMI interface. "

Does that mean the converted HDTV signal will only go through HDMI cable?
What if I wanted to hook up the HD A3 to my TV via component video cable, does the A3 still upconvert the SD DVD to HD and send the signal via component cable?

My TV only has one HDMI input and now is connected to the DirectTV receiver, and my AVR is not HDMI capable.

Thank you for your help.

 

[gus6464]

Hi folks:
I am planning to buy the HD A3. I have a question regarding the below statement:

"Next-generation HD DVD format compatible for true HDTV video with amazing color and incredible high-resolution surround sound.
Delivers greatly enhanced video performance with standard DVDs by upconverting their video resolution to HDTV-compliant 720p or 1080i via the HDMI interface. "

Does that mean the converted HDTV signal will only go through HDMI cable?
What if I wanted to hook up the HD A3 to my TV via component video cable, does the A3 still upconvert the SD DVD to HD and send the signal via component cable?

My TV only has one HDMI input and now is connected to the DirectTV receiver, and my AVR is not HDMI capable.

Thank you for your help.

The A3 will only upconvert stand dvds if it is connected via hdmi. If you have component you will only get 480i from them but you can still get 1080i from the hd dvds. So if you are just going to be using it for hd dvds then you are fine. But if you also want it to upconvert you have to use hdmi.

 

[Gasman]

component you will only get 480i from them

I am not 100% sure, but I am 99% sure you mean 480p.
As I do not have the A3, but an A2 and its default is 480p not i.

 

[j_garcia]

I'd either get an inexpensive switch or use HDMI for the A3 and use component for the DTV box since I don't believe it requires HDMI for anything.

 

[yettitheman]

I don't want to sound dumb or ignorant, but I feel no matter how hard we try, we will never keep up with HDMI (unless you have a swimming pool of cash each month to throw at the latest).

But yeah, long story short, regular DVD upscaling is done best with HDMI. HD-DVD is a toss up, I use Component mainly on my A2 (my TV has no HDMI either) and HD movies look fine (for a 30" HD monitor). DVD's though, are about the same from my old Sony DVD player. On the HDMI Mitsubishi TV downstairs, it does wonders for regular DVDs.

 

[cmusic]

I bought an A3 last Friday and like others above have said, it does not upconvert 480i to 1080i through the component outputs. However the video quality looks great, just as good as my previous progressive scan 480p DVD player. The only quirk I have found is the 1080i still lights up on the front panel display.